Stanley Donen

The Profile

Stanley Donen (April 13, 1924 – February 21, 2019) was an American film director and choreographer best known for classic Hollywood musicals and films such as Singin' in the Rain (co-directed with Gene Kelly), Funny Face, Charade and Two for the Road.

Directed and choreographed numerous films; collaborated multiple times with Audrey Hepburn (Funny Face, Charade, Two for the Road); frequently worked in the musical genre; Singin' in the Rain (1952) was co-directed with Gene Kelly. Henry Mancini composed music for some of his later films.

Three DeBaser reviews praise Donen's skill moving between musicals and narrative cinema. Critics highlight his work with Audrey Hepburn and composers like Henry Mancini. The pieces emphasize craft: rhythm, editing, and inventive use of time and space.